Can negatively valenced climate information promote pro-environmental behaviour? An experimental approach to energy conservation

• Sarah A. Elbakry ^[1] ; Sarah Mansour ^[2] ; Dalia M. Ibrahiem ^[2]
  1. [1] British University in Egypt

     British University in Egypt

     Egipto

     
  2. [2] Cairo University

     Cairo University

     Egipto

     
• Localización: PsyEcology: Bilingual Journal of Environmental Psychology / Revista Bilingüe de Psicología Ambiental, ISSN-e 1989-9386, ISSN 2171-1976, Vol. 16, Nº. 1, 2025, págs. 62-82
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1177/21711976241309855
• Títulos paralelos:
  • ¿Puede la información sobre el clima con valencia negativa favorecer la conducta proambiental? Un enfoque experimental del ahorro energético
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Este artículo evalúa el efecto de comunicar información con una valencia negativa sobre el cambio climático en la conducta proambiental y la actitud hacia el medio ambiente. El trabajo emplea una metodología experimental, según la cual se llevó a cabo un experimento de laboratorio incentivado con la participación de 194 sujetos asignados aleatoriamente a dos condiciones experimentales. Los sujetos de ambas condiciones realizaron una Tarea de Conducta Proambiental (TCPA) con consecuencias y rellenaron después del experimento un cuestionario de actitud. Se compararon las elecciones de la TCPA y las respuestas al cuestionario en las distintas condiciones para evaluar la eficacia de la intervención conductual aplicada únicamente en la condición de tratamiento. Los resultados aportan pruebas de que la información sobre el cambio climático que induce un afecto negativo relacionado con el medio ambiente es eficaz para lograr resultados de conservación de la energía.

  • English

    This paper assesses the effect of communicating negatively valenced climate change information on pro-environmental behaviour and environmental attitude. The paper employs an experimental methodology, where an incentivized lab experiment was conducted with the participation of 194 subjects randomly allocated into two experimental conditions. Subjects in both conditions performed a consequential Pro-Environmental Behaviour Task (PEBT) and completed a post-experiment attitudinal questionnaire. PEBT choices and questionnaire responses were compared across conditions to assess the effectiveness of the behavioural intervention applied in the treatment condition only. Results provide evidence that climate change information that induces an environment-related negative affect is effective in achieving energy conservation outcomes.

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